Roping Melanie by Melissa Ellen

24

Nash

“I didn’t expect to see you here.” Melanie tucked a few strands of hair behind her right ear. She settled her back against the edge of the bar next to me. Her skin was flushed, and she seemed nervous.

She was doing her best not to react in front of the whole damn town at seeing me for the first time in weeks. At me seeing her with him. The doctor that had a thing for her. I’d given him a curt greeting, before making the silence awkward enough to force him to walk away and leave me alone with my girl.

My palms itched with the desire to hold her. Pull her flush against me and take that sweet mouth with mine. It’d been too long since I’d been able to do so.

“Yeah, well . . .” I glanced over to where Tucker was dancing with his wife, Lottie. “I’m thinking I may have received a pity invite, being the new guy.”

When Tucker had invited me awhile back, I hadn’t planned on coming since I wasn’t sure when I’d be back in town. But then I remembered Mel said she was working the reception and Avery would be there too with her parents. I thought I’d surprise them both on my way to my next rodeo. I hadn’t expected to receive a surprise of my own. We’d be discussing what she was doing with Dr. Dipshit later.

Melanie smiled. “I doubt that. Seems you’ve already worked your way into the hearts of half the town.”

“And what about yours?” The words were out of my mouth without a thought.

Even if I could take them back, I wouldn’t. Things had been going great between us. And I was tired of beating around the bush. Tired of the distance between us. I wanted the world to know we were together, so I didn’t have to worry about other men trying to take what was mine. This wasn’t a one-time ride for me. I wanted it all.

Melanie’s mouth gaped open slightly before she closed it and fought against the flush that extended from her cheeks to her chest.

“Nash,” she reprimanded.

It was no more than a soft whisper. What I’d give to hear her say my name like that behind closed doors. It’d give me the chance to cure my curiosity at the same time, wondering just how far the heated skin extended below her dress.

I turned into her, crowding her space. “I missed the hell out of you, Mel. You have no idea.”

“Nash,” she warned again, her gaze darting over my shoulder to ensure nobody was watching.

“Dance with me, baby. I can’t wait another second to feel you in my arms.” It was the only thing I could think to do right then to make that happen and nobody read too much into it.

Her breath caught in her throat as she struggled to resist me.

“Daddy!” The familiar sound of Avery’s voice sliced through the air, interrupting us.

Seconds later, she was pushing between us, her arms wrapping around my legs in a vise grip. I hugged her back, my whole body filled with joy at seeing her.

“You’re back!” she squealed.

“I am. And I was just telling your mom I was hoping someone here would dance with me.” I gave Mel a pointed look.

We weren’t done with our conversation here. It was time we talked about the next steps. I had plenty of time to think on the long drives between rodeos. I knew what I wanted. And I wanted Mel.

“I have to work. You should dance with your daughter,” Melanie quickly suggested.

As much as I wanted to dance with Mel, I wouldn’t pass up the chance of a father-daughter dance. I dropped my eyes to Avery. “What do you say, ladybug? Want to dance with me?”

“I don’t know how to dance like that,” she said, looking over at all the couples on the dance floor.

“Like my daddy always says, no better time to learn than the present.”

“Did your daddy teach you to dance?”

I chuckled. “No. My mom did. But he taught me a lot of other things.”

Unsure, Avery looked over at her mom for guidance. Melanie gave her a soft smile and a reassuring nod. Then, Avery’s hand was in mine, dragging me toward the dance floor.

After the first song, whatever doubts Avery had about dancing were completely gone. We’d gone for a spin around the dance floor for another three songs before I had to tap out and get a drink.

Her disappointment only lasted a second before she was off and running with friends.

I made my way to the bar, hoping to snag a few moments with Melanie. Unfortunately, she was tied up in conversation with a couple guests. Leaning against the bar’s edge with a bottle of beer in hand, I decided to wait them out until she was able to free herself.

Though I could be a patient man, I didn’t have much when it came to Melanie. The moment I caught her eye, I gave her a wink. She blushed and turned her focus back to the couple in front of her.

“You should be more careful or someone is going to see the looks you two keep giving each other.” The sound of Olivia’s voice dragged my attention away.

I studied Melanie’s friend for a beat, before asking, “You don’t like me much, do you?”

“I like you just fine,” Olivia clipped as she straightened a few of the stems in one of the centerpieces on the bar.

“There’s a but in there though. I can see it on your face even if you aren’t saying it.”

With a heavy exhale, she stopped and looked at me. “But . . .”

“And there it is.”

“I’m worried. I don’t want to see my friend hurt. And even more so, I don’t want to see you break that little girl’s heart. Melanie is strong. She’ll bounce back if you decide to disappear suddenly. But Avery is just a child. She won’t understand it. It will ruin her.”

I considered Olivia’s words and tried to keep control of my temper. The woman hardly knew me and from what I knew of her, she was fiercely protective of my girls. I couldn’t fault her for that. I respected it.

“Look,” I said, turning to face her. “I can’t guarantee anything when it comes to me and Mel. But no matter what, I can guarantee you I won’t abandon my daughter. She will never want for nothing.”

“Ohhh,” she drawled sarcastically. “I have no doubt you’ll spoil that little girl and that you’re everything Melanie could hope for. But you can’t just be what they want. You’ve got to be what they need.”

“And what’s that?” I crossed my arms, not liking her tone one bit.

“Stability. And from what I know, the life of a bull rider is anything but stable. It’s long stints on the road, leaving Melanie no better than she is now. It’s risky. Every time you get in that chute, you’re rolling the dice of whether you’ll walk away.”

She was right. There was no arguing with her. But hell, what did she expect me to do? Give up everything I’d ever known? My career?

My heart was pulling me two directions. Riding bulls was as much a part of me as that little girl. It’s all I’d ever known.

“Am I wrong?” Olivia asked, when I hadn’t responded.

I took a pull of my beer and turned away from her to face the bar. I leaned on my elbows, not sure what to tell her when we both knew she wasn’t.

“Everything okay here?” Mel sidled up next to me, staring around me to look at her friend.

“Just fine,” Olivia feigned a smile before walking away.

“What was that about?” Mel asked.

“Nothing,” I said, trying to shake off my irritation. “How long are you going to make me wait?”

“For what?”

“Our dance?”

Melanie’s eyes darted across the room. I followed her gaze to the doctor. And immediately my irritation was back.

“Something I should know about?”

“What? No. Of course not.”

“We need to talk, Mel.”

“Not now.”

“Yes, now.” I grabbed her hand, threading my fingers with hers, pulling her in the direction of the back exit.

“Nash,” she reprimanded, trying to break my hold on her while nervously looking over at where Avery was.

We’d been playing this secretive game for weeks. The push and pull had me ready to set the world on fire. I was done with playing games. Now I was playing for keeps. I wanted the whole world to know Melanie was mine, including Avery.

“She isn’t looking. And so what if she is? Would it be the worst thing in the world for her to see her mom and dad holding hands?”

“I don’t want her to get the wrong idea.”

“What if it isn’t?” I halted, tugging her hand and pulling her to a stop with me in the hallway. “I want this. You. Avery. I want us. Things have been good with us.”

She rubbed at her forehead with her free hand in frustration. “It’s still early. What if it doesn’t work out between us?”

“And what if it does?”

She opened her mouth to say more, then snapped it closed. “I don’t know what you want me to say right now. I’m trying to work. I haven’t had time to pee, much less think about what to do about all this.”

“About all this?”

“Yes. You haven’t exactly been present or even called,” she snapped. “And now you show up here, wanting me to announce to Avery and the world that we are what? What are we?”

“Wow.” I dropped her hand, taking a step back. “Is that why you showed up here with Doctor Doofus?”

“Don’t be a jerk. It’s not what you think.”

“It’s not what I think . . . did you come here with him?”

“I mean, yes he drove me here, but—” She glanced toward the main room where everyone was carrying on, having a good time, oblivious to the two of us. “Can we talk about this later?”

“Sure,” I clipped. “When you’re ready, you know where to find me.” I turned to leave.

“Nash. Where are you going?”

“To tell my daughter goodbye,” I replied without giving her another glance. I continued my stride, searching for Avery. The moment I spotted her, I made my way over to her. I gave her a quick kiss and hug bye, promising her I’d see her later before I slipped out of there with my pride barely intact.

“You can’t really think there’s something going on between the two of them?” Meg said. “Did you even ask her?”

“Not exactly,” I replied as I drove down the highway toward town. “She would barely give me two minutes of her time.”

Meg had called me shortly after I stormed out of Dudley’s. Naturally, she’d sensed my anger immediately and asked me what was wrong. I’d already given her the full replay.

“Okay . . .” Meg said, thinking it over. “Well, then it’s not fair to assume anything. She already said it wasn’t what you think. Your only choice is to believe her.”

“The way you did Alec?”

“Wow.”

“Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I’m just—”

“Frustrated. I get it. But Melanie isn’t Alec. And she has a point. You can’t go days without contacting her and then expect her to announce her undying love for you to the world and your daughter. What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking I didn’t like thinking about another man’s hands on her.”

“Well, you gotta rein it in cowboy. And you gotta start thinking about adjusting the way you live life on the road. You can’t go days without calling her and Avery the same way you do the rest of us.”

“Shit. I know.” It hadn’t been intentional. We were traveling to some pretty remote areas the last few days with little to no service.

“Can I ask you something without you getting mad?” Meg asked.

“What?”

“Did you decide you wanted Avery and everyone to know before you saw her walk in with the doctor or only after?”

“Before.” I told her the truth.

“Good.” I heard the smile in her one-word response.

It made me smile. But it was short-lived when I saw a familiar car sitting on the side of the road. “Dammit,” I cursed under my breath as I pulled to the shoulder behind it.

“What? What is it?”

“Mel’s car. Looks like it broke down on her.” I shifted my truck into park. “Jesus, I’m an idiot,” I cursed under my breath.

“You are. And a jerk,” Meg added helpfully.

I wouldn’t disagree after the way I acted. “I’m gonna have to call you later, sis.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Take care of her car. Then apologize and hope she’ll forgive me.”

“Good luck.”

“Thanks.”